bolt-action
adjective
bolt-ac·tion
ˈbōlt-ˈak-shən 
of a firearm
: loaded by means of a manually operated bolt
Examples of bolt-action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Authorities had said the gun used to assassinate Kirk was a Mauser 98, a common bolt-action rifle typically used for hunting.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Sajid Akram legally owned six guns, including the two shotguns and two bolt-action rifles used at Bondi.
—CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
The gunman used a bolt-action rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
—Jamie Stengle, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
The killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, used a Carcano model 38, a bolt-action rifle originally designed in the late 19th century for the Italian military.
—Andrew Blankstein, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Robinson’s father also recognized the weapon from news coverage as the same bolt-action rifle his son had inherited from his grandfather, according to court filings.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recovered evidence includes a bolt-action rifle and forensic impressions lifted from the rooftop, including palm and forearm imprints and footwear marks.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Here's a look at how bolt-action rifles work and their legality in Indiana.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 12 Sep. 2025
Unlike semiautomatic firearms, bolt-action rifles require manual cycling between shots, limiting the rate of fire to one round at a time.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Sajid Akram legally owned six guns, including the two shotguns and two bolt-action rifles used at Bondi.
—CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
The gunman used a bolt-action rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
—Jamie Stengle, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
The killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, used a Carcano model 38, a bolt-action rifle originally designed in the late 19th century for the Italian military.
—Andrew Blankstein, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Robinson’s father also recognized the weapon from news coverage as the same bolt-action rifle his son had inherited from his grandfather, according to court filings.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recovered evidence includes a bolt-action rifle and forensic impressions lifted from the rooftop, including palm and forearm imprints and footwear marks.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Here's a look at how bolt-action rifles work and their legality in Indiana.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 12 Sep. 2025
Unlike semiautomatic firearms, bolt-action rifles require manual cycling between shots, limiting the rate of fire to one round at a time.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bolt-action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolt-action. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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